Native vs Hybrid App Comparison: Part 1

When we are using the native programming language of the devices to build the app then it is called Native app. For iPhone, the native programming language is Objective C and the new Swift. For Android, the native programming language is Java.

Hybrid apps are developed using web technologies: HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, they are then put inside a native container such Adobe PhoneGap. These native containers run the web application code and package it into an app.
Both technologies be it hybrid and native can creates apps that are downloadable for iPhone and Android, at Google Play or apple iTunes app Store.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using either technology. In this article I will go over some of the advantages and disadvantages of using hybrid app development (HTML5, CSS and JavaScript) vs native app development technologies.

(1) Interface Design
Most mobile interfaces can be implemented using either native app or hybrid app development technologies; however, there is more flexibility in designing these interfaces using hybrid / PhoneGap app development technology. Hybrid app development uses HTML5 and CSS3 that have far superior capabilities when designing interfaces with many form factors and highly dynamic content.

However, there are some drawbacks and interface design issues that may come up when using hybrid app development.
Sometimes it is tedious and is time consuming to implement certain standard native user experience designs and complicated interfaces using hybrid app development technology.

The native app development environment provides tools and design widgets for creating certain standard interfaces with native user interaction experience which are not currently available using hybrid app development tools. So, it is easier to create native app user experience using native app development environment.

(2) Cost
More people are looking towards hybrid reason being it is more cost effective to build hybrid mobile apps. Hybrid development leverage high quality and diverse sets of libraries as well as providing the tools required to reduce the development time.

However, one has to keep in mind that if you are looking to create a certain native user experience and native feel, it can be more time consuming and more costly to design and develop a certain native user experience using hybrid technology.

Also, with hybrid app development, you can build it once and submit it to all of the three platforms iPhone, Android, Windows Phone. So, you would be saving money by not having to build the app using native programming language of each platform.

The above costs are just a ball park average cost. The cost can be lower or higher based on mobile app project size and specifications.*MVP: Minimum Viable Product

(3) Time to Market
Hybrid apps are easier and faster to develop and deploy. However, if there are a lot of native and complicated features that are beyond the capability of the hybrid app Framework and Environment, then it will be more time consuming to build for hybrid apps.